Korean LLDPE Supply: Lotte, LG and Hanwha Grades and Lead Times

Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) is a copolymer of ethylene with 1-butene, 1-hexene, or 1-octene, produced by gas-phase, solution, or slurry polymerisation. Short-chain branching levels of 10–30 per 1000 carbon atoms reduce crystallinity and produce a density range of 0.915–0.940 g/cm³ under ASTM D1505-18. The resin is specified by melt index under ASTM D1238-23 at 190 °C/2.16 kg, density, comonomer type, and molecular weight distribution. Korean LLDPE supply from Lotte Chemical, LG Chem, and Hanwha Solutions is generated at integrated complexes in Yeosu, Daesan, and Ulsan, where naphtha cracker ethylene and 1-butene or 1-hexene comonomer streams feed polyethylene reactors. The commercial grade structure separates butene-based C4-LLDPE for standard blown and cast film, hexene-based C6-LLDPE for higher toughness film, and metallocene-catalysed mLLDPE for sealant and stretch applications. No producer datasheet lists a fixed lead time; availability is governed by campaign sequence, destination transit, and allocation. Converter qualification therefore depends on matching grade-specific thermal, rheological, and mechanical data to a specific film line rather than treating LLDPE as a single interchangeable commodity.

What Distinguishes C4, C6 and Metallocene LLDPE in Korean Converter Specifications?

In film testing, the controlling variable is comonomer length. Butene-C4 grades contain ethyl branches after incorporation; hexene-C6 grades contain butyl branches; metallocene mLLDPE grades use single-site catalysts to distribute comonomer more uniformly along the chain. This changes dart impact, tear propagation, and seal initiation. A 25 µm blown film from C4-LLDPE may show dart impact of 100–150 g under ASTM D1709-22, whereas a comparable C6-LLDPE film often reports 180–240 g; metallocene hexene-based film can exceed 300 g. Elmendorf tear in the machine direction follows a similar ranking, with C4 grades producing lower resistance than C6 or metallocene grades under ASTM D1922-15. Seal initiation measured by converter-specific hot-tack protocols shifts from 105–115 °C for C4 film to 95–105 °C for metallocene grades; this change is significant for high-speed vertical form-fill-seal lines.

For cast film extrusion of Korean C4-LLDPE on a 75 mm single-screw extruder with 30:1 L/D, barrel temperatures are commonly 190–240 °C and die temperatures 240–260 °C. Screen-pack pressure should remain below 35 MPa to avoid excessive shear-induced chain scission. When C6-LLDPE is substituted, the lower melt index raises head pressure; operators normally widen the die gap from 0.5–0.8 mm to 0.8–1.0 mm or reduce throughput by 10–20% to maintain melt curtain stability. In blown film, Korean C6-LLDPE grades are processed with a die gap of 1.2–2.0 mm, blow-up ratio 2.0–3.0, and frost line height of 8–10 die diameters. High-stalk bubbles require sufficient melt strength, which is one reason C6 and metallocene grades with narrower molecular weight distribution are blended with LDPE at 10–20 wt% to improve bubble stability. The addition of LDPE is not a general rule; it must be validated on the target line because excessive LDPE can reduce dart impact under ASTM D1709-22 and increase heat-seal initiation temperature.

Polymerisation-Catalyst Variables and Korean Production Asset Configuration

Across Korean LLDPE supply, production is split between gas-phase fluidised-bed processes and solution processes. Gas-phase Ziegler-Natta catalysts generate broad molecular weight distribution and heterogeneous comonomer placement; metallocene catalysts on silica supports generate narrow distribution and uniform short-chain branching. The difference is visible in melt rheology: Ziegler-Natta LLDPE has higher shear sensitivity, while metallocene LLDPE has lower shear thinning and a higher plateau modulus, which can cause melt fracture in narrow die gaps. Melt-index and density targets are controlled within campaigns by adjusting hydrogen, comonomer-to-ethylene ratio, and catalyst feed. A density tolerance of ±0.002 g/cm³ and melt-index tolerance of ±0.2 g/10 min are common acceptance windows in producer certificates of analysis; converters should set internal specifications accordingly. Grade transitions within a family are a production bottleneck: switching from a 1.0 g/10 min C4 film grade to a 0.9 g/10 min C6 film grade may generate off-spec material for 2–6 hours depending on reactor size and purge efficiency. Korean producers operate multiple reactor lines, which allows some parallel grade campaigns; however, metallocene mLLDPE grades are produced in shorter, less frequent campaigns because catalyst systems and trim feeds differ from conventional Ziegler-Natta lines. Lotte Chemical’s portfolio is oriented toward broad C4 and C6 film coverage; LG Chem’s LUCENE metallocene series is positioned for sealant and stretch film; Hanwha Solutions supplies C4/C6 film grades for high-stalk blown film and agricultural film. Exact trade-name suffixes vary by plant and catalyst generation; the producer’s certificate of analysis remains the binding document for lot acceptance under ISO 9001:2015 and ASTM D4976-23.

When Korean C6-LLDPE Replaces C4-LLDPE in High-Stalk Blown Film

When a converter replaces C4-LLDPE with Korean C6-LLDPE in a high-stalk blown film die, the process response is not limited to mechanical properties. Because C6 film grades commonly have melt indices of 0.9–1.2 g/10 min, compared with 1.0–2.0 g/10 min for C4 film grades, the lower MI increases viscosity and extrusion head pressure. At constant screw speed, head pressure can rise by 10–25%, requiring derating of throughput on an extruder with 30:1 L/D and a barrier screw. The die gap should be increased to 1.2–2.0 mm for C6 high-stalk film, while C4 film may run acceptably at 0.8–1.2 mm. Frost line height must be maintained at 8–10 die diameters for stable high-stalk operation; a lower frost line produces insufficient orientation and lower drop resistance under ASTM D1709-22. The melting point of C4 and C6 LLDPE at similar density is in the range of 120–126 °C by ASTM D3418-15; C6 resins do not require a lower melt temperature, but the longer short-chain branches increase extensional viscosity and bubble stability. If melt fracture or bubble pumping occurs, processing aids may be added at 200–500 mg/kg only after confirming food-contact suitability under FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 or EU Regulation 10/2011. In cast stretch film, Korean metallocene LLDPE grades are often blended with C4-LLDPE at 20–40 wt% to raise elongation and puncture resistance while maintaining clarity. The mLLDPE component has a narrower molecular weight distribution, which reduces haze under ASTM D1003-13 but increases susceptibility to melt fracture. Cast film lines running mLLDPE-rich blends require die gap settings of 0.5–0.8 mm, chill roll temperatures of 15–25 °C, and line speeds above 150 m/min to quench crystallinity. If the line cannot reach 150 m/min, the film may exhibit higher haze and lower tear propagation under ASTM D1922-15.

At the logistics planning stage, Korean LLDPE lead times separate into stocked and campaign-limited grades. Standard C4-LLDPE film grades are produced more frequently; C6-LLDPE and metallocene grades are campaign-limited. A converter that maintains a blanket order for C4 may receive monthly or biweekly bookings from warehouse stock in the destination region. For non-stocked C6-LLDPE or mLLDPE, the order must enter the producer’s production schedule, which adds a waiting window of 7–21 days before the material is packed in 25 kg bags or 500–1000 kg FIBCs. Ocean transit from Ulsan, Yeosu, or Daesan to major Asian ports is short: 2–5 days to Shanghai or Ningbo, 5–10 days to Ho Chi Minh or Laem Chabang, and 10–15 days to Jebel Ali. For European destinations, transit from Korean ports to Rotterdam or Antwerp is 28–35 days; North American West Coast transit is 12–18 days. Customs and port release add 3–7 days for full-container loads with complete documentation. Total planning lead time therefore ranges from 15–25 days for stocked C4 grades within Asia to 45–65 days for campaign-limited C6 or metallocene grades to Europe. Published data for live supplier quotations is limited because lead times are allocation-dependent; these ranges are logistics-derived planning values, not contractual guarantees. Supply contracts typically specify delivery windows in INCOTERMS 2020, such as FOB Korean port or CIF destination, and penalties are based on those terms. Acceptance testing of Korean LLDPE for film conversion is normally performed on pellets, not on film. The certificate of analysis includes density and melt index, but not film strength; converters should request film evaluation data from the producer’s application laboratory. For Lotte, LG, and Hanwha, application-specific data such as dart impact, Elmendorf tear, and seal initiation are often available for standard film grades. When a grade is used for food contact, compliance is verified under FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 or EU Regulation 10/2011; however, producer compliance statements cover the resin as supplied, not the final converted article after printing, lamination, or corona treatment. Antioxidant and slip/antiblock packages differ by grade and can affect organoleptic performance; converters must confirm with the supplier’s regulatory affairs group for specific additive formulations.